Ji jets in to tie up Cats contract

25 June 2011 08:30

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JI DONG-WON will fly into the North-East this weekend to undergo a medical and tie up the loose ends of his move to Sunderland.[LNB] The Black Cats agreed a fee that could eventually rise to £2m with South Korean side Chunnam Dragons this week, paving the way for Ji's move to the Premier League.[LNB] The 20-year-old has agreed to move to Wearside, and will be confirmed as a Sunderland player at the start of next week, provided there are no unforeseen problems in this weekend's talks.[LNB] Ji and his representatives will agree the finer details of the striker's contract before a routine medical is conducted.[LNB] The South Korea international will become Steve Bruce's third summer signing following the capture of both Seb Larsson and Kieren Westwood on free transfers.[LNB] He has no experience of playing outside his homeland and is only in his second season as a full-time professional.[LNB] However, Black Cats boss Steve Bruce is hoping he will adapt to English football fairly quickly, with Fraizer Campbell expected to miss the majority of next season with a serious knee injury.[LNB] Bruce is expected to sign at least one more striker this summer Liverpool's David Ngog is involved in ongoing talks with Sunderland officials but Ji will still be expected to play a reasonably prominent role in next season's squad list.[LNB] At the same time, Bruce is keen to continue developing the club's younger players, a number of whom were involved in the senior squad at the end of last season.[LNB] The likes of Ryan Noble, Jordan Cook, Craig Lynch, Billy Knott and Louis Laing all got a taste of first-team football, and while some are expected to leave the North-East on loan next season, Bruce insists his summer spending spree will not prevent others making further progress.[LNB] I don't think anyone doubts we have now got a busy summer ahead of us in the transfer market, but it won't be at the expense of players coming through, said the Sunderland boss.[LNB] If the young lads prove they are good enough, they will get their chance, just like Jordan and Jack did.[LNB]